The American Ireland Fund - Dallas : News 2008

The McKillop Irish Spirit Award, Dallas Texas : 5.12.08

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This year the award goes to Richard Moore, of Derry City Northern Ireland, founder of
Children in Crossfire

Richard at age ten was blinded by a rubber bullet fired into his face by a British soldier as he was on his way home from school. He never allowed bitterness to stunt his development becoming a husband, father, musician, community leader, and successful businessman. He has even met and reconciled with the British soldier who blinded him.

His organization has raised awareness throughout Northern Ireland of the plight of the poor in Brazil, Colombia, Malawi, Gambia, Guinea, Ethiopia, and Bangladesh in projects ranging from working with street children in Brazil, rehabilitation of child soldiers, mother and child development projects, to agriculture and water schemes. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet has called him his hero, for despite his painful experience he harbors no anger or hate.

May 12th at Northwood Club in Dallas there was not a dry eye in the house when Richard received his award from Ross Perot. His upbeat spirit however carried the day and when he played Danny Boy and got the entire ballroom to sing along it brought to mind the old country.

The evening ended with an after-hours rousing sing-song around the piano with John Kane of Bermuda on the piano, Richard Moore on the electric guitar, and Terry Browne on the tin whistle. All in all an extraordinarily uplifting evening.

Photos
1. Kingsley Aikins introduces Ross Perot Sr
2. Ross Perot Sr introduces Harry McKillop
3. Harry McKillop and Richard Moore
4. Richard Moore shares with the audience his moving story
5. Richard Moore receives the Waterford crystal Irish Spirit Award
6. Richard Moore and Terry Browne entertain the audience
7. Sister Margaret Ann Moser and Archie Bennett
8. Richard Moore, Kingsley Aikins, and Harry McKillop
9. Waterford crystal Irish Spirit Award

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Profile : Richard Moore

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Full size | eCard photo

Richard Moore, Children in Crossfire from his visit to Ethiopia

Recently I visited Ethiopia where millions of children are working and living on the street. I witnessed 60 families living in a graveyard, in makeshift houses made of plastic, built on top of the graves.

In most cases families of eight lived in these 3 ft by 3 ft shacks with no running water, no sewage system and very little food. Here education is the last thing on their mind; they are simply trying to survive from one day to the next. So even before we tackle the issue of education, we must first of all try to ensure that they get the basic rights such as a proper home and food, free from disease and abuse.

In one village, I visited a school where in the average sized classroom there were over 200 children with barely enough room to sit. These children could not afford the £30 per year that it took to send them to school.